Automatic parking meter



, Feb. 1, 1944. A, oc AL 2,340,441

AUTOMATIC PARKING METER Filed Feb. 9, 1940 5 sheets-Sheet l gawcwfou ROBERT F. BROUSSAHD CHARLES A; 7055 Feb. 1, 1944. c A, TQcE ET AL 2340,44].

AUTOMATIC PARKING METER Filed Feb. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a /a/ 94 ;96 95702 Us E Ina 4 Z8 35 1 27 .97 5 M ,0 Q

ammo/whoa ROBE/P7 E BROUSSARD CHARLES A. TOCE Y. q with 5 Feb. 1, 1944. c; TOCE ET AL 2540,441

AUTOMATIC PARKING METER Filed Feb. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 1, 1944. c, A, TQCE ET AL 2,340,441

AUTOMATIC PARKING METER Filed Feb. 9, 1940 s Sheets- Sheet 4 F i 5 l4.

85/?7' In BRUUSSARD CHARLES ,4 7005 H a u 9 2 3 ID a 5 6 ,5 4 m. 6 u m 4 n H W 6 0 4 3 5 M z a a //J/ left in Fig. '1;

Patented Feb. 1, v, I

AUTOMATIC PARKING METER,

Charles A. Toce and Robert F. Broussard, Houston, Tex 'assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Vehicular Parking, Ltd., Newark, N. J.. a corporation of Delaware Application February 9, 1940', Serial No. 318,016 71Claims. (Cl. 161-15) This invention relates to parking meters and more particularly to a mechanism which is automatically operated by the deposit of a coin or token for indicating the period of time which elapses after the device was placed in operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a meter of the type described which is automatic in operation upon the insertion of a proper coin or token therein.

Another object is to provide a parking meter in which the time indicating mechanism is normally urged to initial starting or zero position and is automatically released upon the deposit of a coin so that the mechanism will return to such position.

Another object is to provide a timing mechanism which is automatically stopped when a predetermined time interval has elapsed after the operation thereof is initiated.

A-further object is to provide a parking meter which exhibits an overtime indicator after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described which may be readily adjusted for operation for any desired period of time.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism which is positive in action and which is simple and economical to construct and maintain.

The foregoing objects together with additional objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view'of the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the mechanism being shown within a protective housing which is cut away to more clearly show the invention and is a section taken on the line l-i of Fig. 14.

Fig, 2 is a detail showing the construction of the clutching mechanism whereby the time interval indicating mechanism is releasably connected to the timing mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the coin chute;

Fig.- 51s a side elevational view taken from the Fig. 6 is a side elevational view taken from the I right in Fig. 1, the protective housing being en-- tirely omitted in this view;

Fig. 'lis a sectional view taken on line 1-1 in Fi Fig. 8 is an elevational view similar to Fig. l but showing the relative position of parts during an interval of operation Fig. 9 is a detail of the coin mechanism incorporated in the pointer of the time interval indicator;

Fig. 10 is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9 but taken at right angles thereto;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view thru the coin passage taken on line l|--ll in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational view with certain parts cut away and other parts omitted for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevational view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the relative position of parts during an interval of operation. 1

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 with the top of the housing cut away.

Fi 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5-I5 of Fig. 8 and looking to the left in the direction of the arrows.

The invention as shown in the illustrated embodiment (Figs. 5 and 6) comprises essentially a frame I comprising front and rear frame members 2 and 3 between which is located a timing mechanism generally designated as 4.

A tubular shaft 5 is mounted in the frame members and a solid shaft 6, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 15 passes thru this tubular shaft 5 and has movable time indicating means 1 and 8 operatively connected to the front and rear ends thereof. Mounted upon the frame I proximate the time indicating members I and 8 are indicating dials 9 and III which are visible thru the front and rear windows II and I2 respectively in the housing l3 so that pointers driven by the members I and 8 indicate elapsed time after operation of the device was initiated.

The time indicating means I on the front of the device comprises a hand or pointer 20 which has a coin passage having a front opening 2| within which an actuating coin is retained adjacent the window I l.in the housing during a period of operation of the device initiated by such coin. A coin chute generally indicated as 25 is attached to the frame I and has a lower arcuate portion to which is attached the indicating dial 9 as best seen in Figs. 11 and 15. This arcuate portion has an upwardly opening slot 94 proxichamber 26 within the base of the housing IS in a manner that will more'iully appear.

Referring to Fig. '1, the timing mechanism comprises a pair of shafts 21 and 26 mounted in the frame and having the inner ends of springs 23 and 33 attached thereto; The other ends of these springs are attached to spring barrels 3| which are integral with the wheels 32 and 33. Each-of these wheels meshes with a pinion 34 mounted upon a shaft 35. The pinion 34 meshes in turn with a gear 36 fixed to the tubular shaft 5.

By means of the construction as just described the energy stored in the springs 23 and 33 is imparted to the gear 36 so that the shaft will be driven thereby. The speed at which the shaft 5 is driven will be controlled by the gear train 31 to which power is imparted from wheel 32 to gear 32' and thence through intermediate gears of the'train 31 to the escapement 38 operated in a step-by-step manner by a balance wheel which oscillates under the influence of a hair spring 39. constructional details of the timing mechanism are not of the essence of the invention and are relatively conventional. It is therefore believed apparent from the foregoing description as to the construction and manner of operation of this portion of the mechanism.

Attention is, however, directed to the factthat the pallet shaft of the escapement 33 is provided with an arm and link connection 43 (Fig. 14) to a shaft 44 which carries a pair of small flags 45. These flags therefore oscillate in front of plates 46 which are preferably colored red opposite the windows and I2 in the housing l3. The flags 45, in the preferred construction, are of a contrasting color so that the operation of the timing mechanism is readily apparent at all times.

During the period of operation for which the meter is adjusted a pair of green flags 41 mounted on a shaft 43 overlie thesmall flags 45 and are provided with a slot 43 whereby the movement of the flags 45 is observable even though the green flags 41 are in elevated position as indicated in each of Figs. 1, 8 and 12.

As best seen in Fig. 14 an arm 62 having a flanged end 63 is adapted to e age the link connection 43 between the escapement pallet and the shaft 44 whereby the movement of the pallet may be arrested. The arm 62 is mounted upon .a rock shaft 64 to which an additional arm 65 is attached at the rear of the meter assembly whereby this assembly serves to arrest the timing assembly during a period when the device is not m use.

The construction whereby the timing mechabell crank lever 56 pivoted on the plate 53 an having outwardly extending latch arm 51 to engage a projection 53 on the arm 54. When the latch arm is released by the deposit of a coin, as will more fully appear, the inherent resiliency of the band 5| will cause the arm to move to the position shown in'dotted outline, the pivoted end 63 of the band 5| moving in the direction indicated 'by the arrow 6| so that the band is released from the drum 53 and the disc 53 is free to rotate to bring the pointer 23 to an initial or zero timing position. 7

An ear 65' is mounted upon the frame member 3 and has a camming surface 66 which is contacted by a roller 61 on the lower end of the arm 54 as the disc 53 is rotated to bring the pointer 23 to the zero position upon the scales 3 and II). This permits the latch arm 51 of the bell crank lever 56 to engage the projection 53 upon the arm 54 so that the band 5| is held in driving engagement with the drum 53 during a period of operation of the device following the deposit of a coin therein.

From the foregoing it seems apparent that the timed rotation of the shaft 5 is effected by a clutching connection thereto of the drum 53 which is driven by the shaft 5. In this manner the shaft 6 and the assembly driven thereby 'is desirably operated in a timed manner during nism may be wound is best shown in Fig. 12 as comprising gear wheels'43 and 4| which are secured to the rear ends of the shafts 21 and 23 respectively. Each of these gears meshes with a ratchet pinion 42 having a non-circular opening 43' centrally thereof and accessible through opening 24 at the front of the meter so that a suitable winding key or its equivalent may be inserted. It is to be understood that the mechanism is so constructed as to drive the time indicating elements for a material length of time. Since the device is in use only periodically the meter will operate over a long period of time from a single winding.

The forward end of the hollow shaft 5 is provided with a. drum 53 surrounded by a band 5| (Fig. 2) of which one end is anchored at 52 to a plate 53 of the indicating means 1 on the forward end of the shaft. The other end of the band is attached to an arm 54 pivotally mounted at 55 upon the plate 53. This arm is nonnally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a latching an interval of operation of the device and also such assembly is returned to a predetermined starting position when the clutch connection between the shaft 5 and 6 released.

It is to be noted that the lower end of the bell crank lever 53 projects into the coin passage in the pointer 23 so that a coin passing therethru will be instrumental in releasing the latch arm 56 from the lever 54. It is also to be noted that the position of the bell crank leveris such that the lower arm thereof is effective to operate under the force of gravity to cause the arm 51 to latch with the projection 53 when the time indicating means 1 moves to the zero position as shown in Fig. 1.

The coin receiving unit includes a head 13 having acoin slot 1| which mates with a complementary slot in the housing l3. When a proper coin is deposited and the pointer 23 approaches zero position, a roller 12 on the lever 13 moves downwardly over the camming surface 14 on the disc 53. This causes the upper endof the lever 13 to move to the right (Fig. 1) and move the coin stop 15 across the slot 1| so that an additional coin cannot be deposited until sufficient time has elapsed that the roller 12 is cammed upwardly over the surface 14,

The interior of the head 13 is contoured as shown in Fig. 3 so that a coin inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow 33 moves under gravity downwardly and outwardly as indicated .by the arrow 3| to enter the passage 32 (Fig. 4).

I1 the coin or token is smaller than that for which the unit is designed such coin will ride over the counterweighted lever 33 and beneath a pin 34 and will pass downwardly within the coin chute 25 and into the coin receiver 26. A coin of proper size will strike the pin 34 and will be of sufficient weight to overcome the counterbalance 33 of the lever 33, whereupon the coin will move downwardly as indicated by the arrow 35 and will enter the passage in the pointer 23.

A previously deposited coin is held adjacent the opening 2| in the pointer 23 by the flanged end 33 (Figs. 11 and 15) of a lever 3| which is pivoted at 32 01: the back of the pointer 33. The

upper end of this lever extends around and to the front side of the pointer and has the end thereof projected thru an opening 93 at the center of rotation of the pointer. As the newly deposited coin moves downwardly the upper end of the lever 9| is forced outwardly and the previously deposited coin is released to fall into the coin chute which has an upwardly opening slot 94 adjacent the end of the pointer 20 so that the released coin will be directed to the coin receiver 26.

The deposited coin next engages the end of the bell crank lever 50 and thereby releases the clutch connection between the time indicating mechanism and the timing or driving mecchanism already described. After such actuation has been effected the coin is stopped in front of the opening 2| since the lever 9| has again returned to coin holding position under the influence of asmall tension spring 95.

Reference is now made to the time indicating means 8 which is driven from the shaft 6 at the rear of the meter. A gear 94' fixed to the shaft 6 engages an idling gear 95' to drive a composite gear 06 which meshes with pinion IOI on a shaft I02 to which a vane I03 is attached. Thegear 90 also engages a gear I rotatably mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 0 and to which a disc-H0 is attached by means of screws III passing thru slots III so that the disc is angularly adjustable relative to the gear I00. As-

will more fully appear this construction provides for adjustment of the period of operation of the device, such period being indicated by the position of the pointer II3 uponthe scale II on the disc H0.

The time indicating assembly is constantly urged toward zero or starting position by a tension spring II5 attached to the plate 2 and the disc H0 and passing over the boss IIS on the disc.

It is to be noted that the pointer 91 which moves over the scale I0 is attached to and moves with the gear .94 (Figs. 5 and 6), such pointer therefore moving over the same are as the pointer 20 during a timed interval or the return of the pointers to a zero or initial position.

For further constructional details of the illustrated embodiment of the invention reference will now be made to the manner of operation of the described construction. It will be assumed that the disc I I0 has been adjusted as indicated.

in Fig. 12 so that the meter will operate for a period of forty-five minutes. It will also be assumed that a coin, previously deposited is held beneath the opening 2| in the'pointer 20 and that suflicient time has elapsed subsequent to the deposit of such coin that the disc I I0 has rotated until a pin 6' in the flag 41 has passed over the tip of a lever III pivotally mounted on the disc IIO so that the outer surface of the lever nection between the shaft 6 and the time indicator assembly will be released and the assembly will be rotated under the influence of spring III until the roller 01 rides upon the cam surface 60 of the ear to cause the clutch connection between the time interval indicator and the timing mechanism to be reengaged. During the movement of the time interval indicator assembly the pin II8 on the arm 00 rides over the radially camming surface I20 on the disc H0 and lifts the arm II'I against the tension of spring I2I. Thereafter the pin II8 rides upon the periphery of the disc IIO so that the timing mechanism will begin operation.

In a similar manner the pin H6 of the flag 4! will ride upon the surface I20 and the ilag will thus be lifted to operating position.

Following the sequence of operations just described the mechanism will operate at a timed rate to indicate the interval of time elapsing after the coin was deposited and until the above assumed conditions have again been reached when it will again be necessary to deposit a coin in order to initiate subsequent operation of the de- V168.

While the invention has been described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof, broadly the invention comprehends a meter of the class described which is simple and eillcient and which is set in operation automatically upon the deposit of a proper coin or token.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of, a timing mechanism, a tubular shaft driven thereby, a second shaft extending through said tubular shaft, time indicating dials Proximate the ends of said second shaft, pointers driven by said second shaft in proximity to said dials, a releasable connection between said shafts, and means operable by a coin to release said connection, and means for thereafter rotating said second shaft and moving the pointers to a predetermined indicating position.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of, a clock rotated tubular shaft, a second shaft extending therethrough, time indicating dials proximate the ends of said second shaft, pointers driven by said second shaft in proximity to said dials, a releasable connection between said shafts, means normally urging said second shaft to rotate counter to the direction of rotation of the tubular shaft, means operable by a coin to release said connection so that the pointers may move to a predetermined indicating position, and means for reengaging the connection so that the second shaft is rotated bythe clock rotated tubular shaft.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of, a clock rotated tubular shaft, a second shaft extending therethrough, pointers driven by said second shaft, a releasable connection H1 is continuous with the disc H0. The flag P 41 has therefore fallen to the position shown in between said shafts, means normally urging said second shaft to rotate counter to the direction of rotation of the tubular shaft, means .operable by a coin to release said connection so that the second shaft will rotate under the influence of said first mentioned means, means for terminating the rotation of said second shaft when the pointers reach a predetermined position, and means for reconnecting the shafts with the pointers in such position.

4. In a device of the class described, timing means, a shaft driven thereby, a graduated scale having a zero or initial position indicated thereon. a pointer on said shaft adjacent said scale,

means releasably connected to said shaft for driving the pointer over the scale at a timed rate, means normally urging the shaft to move the pointer toward the zero position on the scale, means operable by a coin to release the driving connection with the shaft, and means cooperating with said last mentioned means for reconnecting the shaft and driving means when the pointer has moved to zero position.

5. In a parking meter the combination of, a clock rotated shaft, a drum fixed thereon, a-sec- 0nd shaft concentric of the first shaft, a disc on said second shaft, a friction band surrounding said drum and having one end attached to said disc, an arm pivotaily mounted on said disc and connected to the other end of the friction band, and means for latching said arm in a position to maintain a driving engagement of the friction band with the drum whereby the shafts rotate in unison.

6. In a parking meter the combination of, a clock rotated shaft, a drum fixed thereon, a second shaft concentric of the first shaft, a disc on said second shaft, a friction bandsurrounding said drum and having one end attached to said disc, an arm pivotally mounted on said disc and connected to the other end of the friction band,

a latch member on said disc for engaging said arm to hold the friction band in engagement with said drum, means on said disc for releasing said latch member by the passage of a coin whereby the friction band is released so that the second shaft may move independently of the clock rotated shaft. I

'7. In a parking meter the combination of, a clock rotated shaft, a drum fixed thereon, a sec-- ond shaft concentric with the first shaft, a disc on said second shaft, a friction band surrounding said drum and having one end attached to the disc, an arm pivotally mounted on said disc and connected to the other end of said band, means for latching said arm to hold said band in engagement with the drum so that said second shaft is driven by the clock rotated shaft, coin operated means for releasing said last mentioned means so that the shafts rotate independently, means normally urging the second shaft to rotate in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the clock rotated shaft, and a fixed camming member for engagement by said arm to move the arm to latching position as the disc is rotated to starting position.

CI-IARLES A. TOCE.

ROBERT F. BROUSSARD. 

